Galas for the Park and for Rescue Dogs! BK Book Festival! Night Vale! Design a Playground!
Plus: 75 NYC Brewers! World Sake Day!
Welcome back to the best Park Slope events newsletter. Links to sources are in (parentheses) after each event. Follow our IG for updates as events change.
Hot! Hot! Hot!
🌶️🌶️10th Annual Hot Sauce Expo on Saturday and Sunday Combines Heat and Spectacle: The best hot sauce companies in America offer free samples alongside beer brewers, bbq, and everything else that pairs well with peppers. While you’re fanning your face, watching pro wrestling and competitive eaters ingesting everything from “Doughnuts of Death” to the “Tacos of Doom” to the big finale, a Guinness World Record “Reaper” pepper-eating contest. (Industry City, 10AM-6PM. $15 tickets, kids enter free)*
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with The Park Slope Walk’s advertising partners.
Good Neighbors News
🔨Park Slope Donations Help Burglarized Cafe Recover in Days! Sunday night, Root Hill Cafe, a Black-owned coffee and baked good mainstay on 4th Avenue, had its front windows smashed in by robbers. The owners put up a GoFundMe and by mid-week closed it because they’d hit their goal .
“We have Park Slope in general to thanks,” the Roots Cafe team told us Thursday morning. “We had our new door installed yesterday, indoor cameras will be installed tomorrow and will add more lights on the side soon.” The team gave a special shoutout to Cafe Mars in Gowanus, which “gave us a very, very generous donation.” The next time you want Italian, consider booking a table there.
Get Involved
🛝Community Visioning Session: Lincoln Road Playground on Sunday, October 1: “Join Prospect Park Alliance for a community workshop to envision the future of the Lincoln Road Playground, which is being restored through $3 million in funding from Borough President Antonio Reynoso.” (10:00 AM Prospect Park - Lincoln Road Playground)
💃🕺🌍Dance for the Planet: A Dance-a-thon to Save the Planet on Sunday, October 1: “350Brooklyn is hosting a dance party for the planet at the Old Stone House. You can become a dancer for the planet, or create a dance team to participate as a group. You can also sponsor a dancer or team. This fun, memorable, action filled event is raising money to sustain 350Brooklyn’s critical and timely work countering the climate crisis through local activism.” (2:00 PM, Old Stone House)
🧶👶Knit With Girl Scouts: Two scouts in the neighborhood are creating blankets for newborns who need them, and they’re looking to inspire others to participate. (See the announcement on Park Slope Together’s FB page)
Worth Booking Now
We have a knack for knowing what will sell out.
🎬💬Brooklyn Talks: Spike Lee and Delroy Lindo on October 12th: “Enter the world one of the most influential American filmmakers, in this intimate conversation with actor Delroy Lindo, Lee’s friend and collaborator. The conversation celebrates the opening of Spike Lee: Creative Sources, offering a rare glimpse into objects from Lee’s personal collection. ” (7:30 PM, Brooklyn Museum)
🗣🎙Welcome To Night Vale: The Attic: “‘Welcome to Night Vale,’ the most downloaded fiction podcast in the world, announced the title and plot of its all new live tour, The Attic. The Attic explores themes of nostalgia, memory and perfection. Cecil discovers slides from an old family road trip, which at first seem fun and joyful but begin to change into something strange and dangerous.” (8:00 PM, The Bell House, $30)
City of Gods Halloween 2023 on October 27th: “An extravagant music & arts festival spanning two breathtaking nights. Our grand convergence of pantheistic powers, a gathering of immense opulence. This is your invitation to express your extravagance. We welcome all deities, demigods and demons, goddexxes, creatures of creation and those devoted to hedonism beyond the human realm.” (9:00 PM, Industry City)
Keep an eye out for more Halloween events in our very-spooky guide coming out shortly.
Thursday, Sept. 28th
📚👗Books Unbanned Storytime with Sarah and Ian Hoffman, authors of ‘Jacob's New Dress:’ “Join us for a unique opportunity to meet the authors of a picture book about a young boy who wants to wear a dress to school. At this read-aloud event, we will also enjoy special activities to celebrate every child's freedom to read and express themselves.” (3:30 PM, Central Library)
🌲🎉🥂Prospect Park Alliance Gala: “A festive celebration in the historic Prospect Park Concert Grove, as we honor leaders who have gone above and beyond for Prospect Park. Guests will enjoy dinner, drinks and pop-up performances by musicians and artists who have made Prospect Park their stage.” (7:00 PM, Prospect Park Concert Grove)
🍾🐕Annual Badass Bash Rescue Royale: Luck Of The Dog. “An opportunity to gather with fellow dog lovers and celebrate everything Badass Animal Rescue stands for. Always a festive event, the 2023 Royale promises a glamorous night with specialty cocktails and brews, tasty bites, amazing live auction packages and highly coveted raffle prizes.” (7:00 PM, Littlefield)
📚💞Must Love Books: “If you’re tired of swiping and ready for your very own bookstore meet-cute, look no further! After dozens of requests, Blink Date is excited to be hosting its very first Must Love Books event at The Ripped Bodice! The mixer will include a short n’ sweet reading followed by mingling over book-related question prompts.” (7:00 PM, The Ripped Bodice)
😂A Talk About Things’ with Jordan Klepper: “Klepper (The Daily Show) does a talk about his time on the road, an instagram famous dog, and encounters with a President and their wisdom. There will be a podium. There may even be slides.” (7:30 PM, Union Hall , $10)
💅👜Pop! A Bingo Party: Real Housewives Edition: “Stock up on SkinnyGirl and close ya legs to married men, because Pop! A Bingo Party is paying homage to our favorite ladies: The Real Housewives. Compete for Housewives-themed prizes and test your Housewives knowledge between rounds. (It will be about Tom.)” (8:00 PM, Parklife)
👯The 21st Annual New York Burlesque Festival Teaser Party!: “Let the NYBF games begin! Hosted by The Great Wilfredo, this night is filled with performances by over a dozen national and international performers plus foot-stomping DJ Momotaro and go-go dancers galore. You can also visit our exciting burlesque shopping bazaar and enjoy post show dancing alongside the stars of the show!” (8:00 PM, The Bell House)
Friday, Sept. 29th
🚣🗣Gowanus Dawn Reading: 7th Annual Poetry in Canoes on the Gowanus Canal : “It's baaaaack! Join us for our 7th annual Reading - as we perform the poetry of Robinson Jeffers in canoes on the Gowanus Canal! This is an official Brooklyn Book Fest Book End Event. Watch and listen from the 9th Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal (and the adjacent parking lot shoreline northeast of the bridge) -- or join us as a reade.” (7:40 AM, 9th Street Bridge, Gowanus Canal)
🍿💀🎸Latino Heritage Month Family Movie Night: ‘Coco.’ “Come and join us as we turn our auditorium into a mini movie theater for our Latino Heritage Month interactive movie program!” (3:30 PM, Park Slope Library)
🍣🎧 🎶🎤Japan Village’s [Karaoke] Night Market: “Delightful food , delectable drinks , dazzling fun featuring Great Music, Karaoke, and a live DJ!” (4:00 PM, Industry City)
📚🗣Beyond the Acclaimed Debut: “How do acclaimed writers work within the limelight and around expectation to carry on with their careers? 2022 finalist Zain Khalid (Brother Alive), 2020 finalist Megha Majumdar (A Burning), and 2018 finalist Jamel Brinkley (A Lucky Man and Witness) address these lucky obstacles with National Book Critics Circle board member Lauren LeBlanc as moderator.” (6:00 PM, Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue)
🗣Boog City’s Poetry Talk: “Boog City’s Poetry Talk Series has featured various pairs of poets reading and in conversation with one another over the past three decades. This time around we’re excited to feature longtime collaborators and friends Todd Colby and Joanna Penn Cooper. We’ll also have a music set from Todd and guitarist Nick Didkovsky.” (6:30 PM, Young Ethel's)
🐶🧶Fall into Felting - Recycled Wool Felting Workshop: “You’ll learn the basics of wet-wool felting and handcraft your own pet toy. It requires some patience and maybe some refreshments🍹 but in the end… will be totally worth it for your little four-legged loved one!!!” (6:30 PM, Gone to the Dogs, $45)
🚣🌕Guided Full Moon Paddle: “Join our Crew on a full-moon guided adventure!! More romantic than a candlelit dinner, the magic of canoeing the Gowanus Canal under a full moon will leave you in awe.” (6:30 PM, Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club)
🛼💜☔️Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco: “This week's theme is Prince Purple Rain.” (7:00 PM,Prospect Park - Lefrak Center)
🎸🎤Juno Roome: “Roome is a Brooklyn-based artist, born in South Korea and has a lot to give. In the US since the age of 10, his upbringing wasn’t always easy and probably that’s the main source of his talent. With a dreamy approach to music, his falsetto vocals, jangle, soft guitar tone and relatable song-writing skills, Juno is on his way to claim his place on the NYC indie scene.” (7:00 PM Littlefield, $20)
🌌🔭Cosmic Connections Stargazing at Green-Wood: “Experience an extraordinary evening of stargazing at Green-Wood in collaboration with the renowned Amateur Astronomers Association. Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of the night sky as you join fellow astronomy enthusiasts for an unforgettable celestial adventure. Telescopes will be available (if you have your own, feel free to bring it!) ” (8:00 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
🗣🎙Welcome To Night Vale: The Attic: See Book Now above. (8:00 PM, The Bell House, $30)
👑💅💄👠A Night With a Queen: “Come hang and drink with Devo Monique & enjoy some shows, music & fun!” (8:00 PM, Sandy Jack's)
Saturday, Sept. 30th
☕️🎉Beanmonger 1st Anniversary: “Come celebrate with a Maker's Outpost, live jazz, coffee tasting, and neighborhood fun.” (9:00 AM, 620 Union Street)
💃💪Upbeat Pop! Dance Fitness at the Boathouse: “Join Prospect Park Alliance and Shape-up NYC for a 45-minute dance fitness class! Come prepared to shake, roll, grapevine, and clap to your favorite upbeat pop songs.” (10:00 AM, Prospect Park - Boathouse)
🐦👀Introduction to Birdwatching Outings: “Prospect Park Alliance and a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club take you on an introductory walk to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons.” (10:00 AM, Prospect Park - Audubon Center)
🌶NYC Hot Sauce Expo: “This is the 10th anniversary of the NYC Hot Sauce Expo and it will showcase the greatest sauce companies in the United States & Canada. All award-winning and all amazing! Witness the insanity of the Stage of Doom, action packed wrestling, FREE hot sauce tastings, amazing food vendors, and enjoy the selection of craft beers & specialty cocktails.” (10:00 AM, Industry City, $15)
🍿🪟👁Rear Window: Spying on your neighbors leads to murder. (12:00 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
🖼🚶5th Avenue Art Stroll: “Rescheduled to this weekend due to last week's rain. Featuring local artists, crafts people and all day music.” (12:00 PM, 5th Avenue between 1st and 3rd Street)
👜🖌Fashion Design Workshop with Think Talk Create: Teens + Adults Edition: “Join an interactive fashion design event where you can create your own tote, hat, or pouch using a variety of materials, colors, and patterns.” (12:00 PM, Industry City, $35)
🍿’A Little Princess’ @Nitehawk: “When young Sara (Liesel Matthews) is sent to a boarding school by her well-meaning World War I-bound father (Liam Cunningham), the imaginative girl makes the best of things by entertaining her friends with fanciful tales. After running afoul of the strict headmistress, Miss Minchin (Eleanor Bron), Sara receives some heartbreaking news, and is forced to work in servitude. As she struggles to keep her spirits up, she makes some remarkable discoveries that may change her seemingly bleak fate.” (12:15 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
🏞🥾Super Hike with Urban Park Rangers: “Explore the hidden paths, waterways, meadows and woods the way that Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux intended for visitors in this 585 acre green gem of Brooklyn.” (1:00 PM, Prospect Park @ Parkside Avenue & South Lake Drive)
🇳🇴💃🕺Gender-Free Norwegian Folk Dance Workshop: One of our surprisingly most-clicked events from last week! “A gender-free Norwegian folk dance workshop for total beginners, focusing on dances from Telemark! Telemark dances are some of the world's most beautiful couple dances, and feature groovy, hypnotic music, improvisation, and lots of spinning! We'll have live music from super fiddlers, expert dance instruction, and good vibes all around.” (1:00 PM, BAX)
🍻NYC Brewers Guild: Blocktoberfest: “The only event where all the NYC Breweries are pouring together in one place at one time. Attendees can sample from over 75 different #NYCBrewed styles. All poured for them by the people behind the beer. This casual festival offers the opportunity for brewery teams to interact with the public.” (1:00 PM, Industry City)
🎶Brooklyn Botanic Garden Artist in Residence Performance: “The first performance is a meditation on natural spaces in the city, the coevolving relationship between humans and trees, and the urban forest, The Garden features Kamala Sankaram on voice, electronics, and sitar and Drew Fleming (Bombay Rickey) on guitar and voice, accompanied by field recordings of the Garden itself and the voices of those who care for its trees. The second performance is An a capella piece for six voices with body percussion, Cultivar draws inspiration from five specific trees at Brooklyn Botanic Garden: magnolia ‘Evamaria’, the weeping beech, flag cherry, dawn redwood, and mangrove.” (2:00 PM, Brooklyn Botanic Garden)
🎉Good Judy Block Party: “Our FINAL block party of 2023 is almost here! We can’t wait to see your faces.” (2:00 PM, Good Judy)
💃Kinship thru Lindy Hop with in·corpus: “Led by dancers and teaching artists Akemi Kinukawa and Elena Valencia, participants will learn the basic steps and history of this New York partner dance. Lindy Hop was born at the Savoy Ballroom (Harlem, NY) during the early 20th century. Centering this form invites New Yorkers, to embody a New York dance, in New York, with other New Yorkers, supporting the goal of community.” (4:00 PM, Old Stone House)
😂Hard Maybe Pan Asian Party: “Join Hard Maybe celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival with an all Asian comedy bonanza featuring some of New York's funniest comedians!” (7:00 PM, 506 5th Avenue)
💅👠👸💄Switch N’ Play: “Beloved Brooklyn drag and burlesque collective Switch n’ Play returns to Littlefield with special guests Ivory Fox and West Dakota!” (8:00 PM Littlefield,$15-$25)
Sunday, Oct. 1st
🛝Community Visioning Session: Lincoln Road Playground: See Get Involved section above. (10:00 AM Prospect Park - LIncoln Road Playground)
🚴Park Slope Bike Ride on Protected Bike Lanes: “Enjoy Park Slope by riding a bike only in protected bike lanes, where bikes are separated from vehicle traffic. Led by Park Slope neighbors, not tour guides, this free one-hour community event welcomes all who are very comfortable riding a bike, but would like to get more experience riding in the street.” (10:45 AM, Bartel-Pritchard Square entrance to Prospect Park)
🍔🍜🌯🍗Smorgasburg: Every great food truck right in the middle of the park. (11:00 AM,Prospect Park - Breeze Hill)
🪻Ippin Project: Kajiha Dryflower Resin Workshop: “AJIHA is a flower and botanical art lab that creates natural scent items and décor objects inspired by nature and offers custom flower arrangement services.Attendees will enjoy creating unique and beautiful dry flower resin accessories like pendants and earrings. All materials and dry flowers are included in the price.” (12:00 PM, Industry City, $20)
🚪🪦Green-Wood Open Doors: “Step into the secrets of the past with an afternoon exploring some of the Cemetery’s most impressive and elaborate nineteenth-century mausoleums. Peek beyond the ornate gates of these stately stone structures to view exquisite stained glass, intricate architecture, and some curious surprises. At each location, docents will offer a glimpse into the lives of the personalities who now rest in these opulent edifices.” (12:00 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery, $30)
🆓🎞Free Film: NYC – Opening Party: “The Airstream-darkroom will travel to different neighborhoods over the next year and a half to provide both an artist studio and community space for distributing free rolls of film to the public. The goal is to document each borough of the City, neighborhood by neighborhood. ” (12:00 PM, Green-Wood Cemetery)
🍶World Sake Day at Beer Witch: “We've curated a special selection of sake from Kato Sake Works (right here in Brooklyn) and Kiuchi Hitachino Sake (Japan). Come try small pours by the glass, along with some beer side pairings as well.” (1:00 PM Beer Witch)
🚣Walk-Up Canoeing at 19th St: “Stop down and launch a canoe for a self-guided paddle from our floating docks at the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker Launch Site!” (1:00 PM, Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club)
🪦⚰️Green-Wood’s Greatest Hits: “On this walking tour, you will tread where George Washington and his troops fought in the Battle of Brooklyn; learn of the massive fire that struck the Brooklyn Theatre in 1876; pay your respects to the maestro, Leonard Bernstein; and discover much more.” (1:00 PM Green-Wood Cemetery, $25)
💃🕺🌍Dance for the Planet: A dance-a-thon to save the planet: See Get Involved section above. (2:00 PM, Old Stone House)
🏞Sunday Funday NYC: “Join us for a fun-filled day at the park. Let loose and enjoy activities and the live music performances by local DJs. ” (3:00 PM, Prospect Park)
😂Lucas O’Neil: Emotional Man: “Following a critically-acclaimed run in Scotland as one of the Best Reviewed Edinburgh Fringe Shows (British Comedy Guide), Lucas O’Neil (Comedy Central) brings his debut solo stand-up show, ‘Emotional Man,’ back home to Brooklyn for one night only. The show will be hosted by Molly Kearney (SNL) and featuring Auguste White (SNL).” (4:00 PM Littlefield, $10-$15)
🗣📚Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror: Memoirs by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Safiya Sinclair, and Phillip Lopate: “Interweaving family stories more enchanting than those in any novel, Ingrid Rojas Contreras writes, in ‘The Man Who Could Move Mountains, ‘a luminous testament to the power of storytelling as a healing art and an invitation to embrace the extraordinary.” (5:00 PM, Central Library)
😂Alexis Gay & Friends: “Rounding up her funniest comedian friends for an hour of fresh, fun, fast-paced stand-up comedy. Alexis is a comedian and podcaster known for satirizing tech culture, her own neuroses, being alive right now and more.” (5:30 PM Union Hall, $12)
📖October Happily Everyone After Bookclub: “The Happily Everyone After Bookclub is led by our booksellers and reads widely across the romance genre. Everyone is welcome! Currently reading "Honey and Spice" by Bolu Babalola,” (7:15 PM, The Ripped Bodice)
😂Maeve Higgins Work Out Show (no exercise): “The democratically elected Queen of Ireland returns to Union Hall with her one-hour work-in-progress show. Expect some strong new stuff, a few comfortable silences and plenty of muttered apologies!!” (8:00 PM Union Hall, $12)
🧙Witch Bungle: “This series, presented by The Old Stone House, features a new cranky with a seasonal tale at the start of each month. It’s a calendar of our changing stories. Some performances will also offer a workshop to the audience in which you can design a cranky of your own to a story we invent together.” (10:00 AM & 3:00 PM, Old Stone House)
Monday, Oct. 2nd
🌮🌯🍻Brooklyn Night Market: “This shindig’s gonna be a global grub fest – think Mexican sausages, Jerk Chicken, Bajan fishcakes, arepas de choclo, and killer Korean dogs. Not to mention, Bavarian Stein Hoisting, live gigs, and sweet giveaways.” [Editor’s note: Their website has the time listed wrong. Event starts at 4:00 PM and goes well into the evening.] (4:00 PM, Industry City)
😂🍔🍟Kevin Geeks Out About Fast Food: “Comedian Kevin Maher returns with a super-sized video variety show about fast food. It’s a multi-media celebration of gimmicky meals, celebrity tie-ins, forgotten franchises, weird commercials and the rich mythology around advertising mascots from your favorite quick service restaurants. Plus: fictional fast-food, insane franchise-founders, a round of trivia and live burlesque.” (7:30 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
Tuesday, Oct. 3rd
🎶Cultura en Concierto: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: “This free community concert event aims to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the LatinX community through music, featuring local NYC LatinX artists Augustin Grasso and Hans Luchs and Mariana Aslan.” (5:00 PM, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music)
📕Tessa Bailey Wreck the Halls Brooklyn Launch Party: “To celebrate Wreck the Halls, we're hosting Tessa Bailey's release party on October 3rd at 7pm. She will be in conversation with author B.K. Borison. There will be a book signing to follow.” (7:00 PM, The Ripped Bodice)
🏃🍿’Running On Empty’ @ Nitehawk: River Phoenix has cool hippy parents, but they are running from the law and he just wants to date Martha Plimpton.” (7:30 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
😂💀🥁🎸The Deadman Family Band: A Comedy Show: “A morbidly absurd night of comedy, music and family secrets…featuring Matt Koff, Dina Hashem, and special guests! LINEUP: Janeane Garofalo, Roy Wood Jr., Jo Firestone, Nick Naney.” (8:00 PM Littlefield, $10-$12)
Wednesday, October 4th
👕👖👗👚Clothing Swap At Koko NYC Lot: “Own less wear more! Every Wednesday come to Koko with clothing to swap.” [Editor’s note: Our 15-year-old highly recommends both the clothes and the people you meet at the swap.] (3:30 PM, The Koko Lot, 440 19th Street)
😂Defector Presents: The Distraction Live!: “It’s Defector Media’s flagship podcast, live for the first time in over two years with Drew Magary, David Roth and special guest Rohan Nadkarni! Expect live Funbag questions from the audience, Guys remembered, gratuitous sandwich talk, and much more!” (7:30 PM Littlefield, $20-$25)
🎼🪦Concert In The Catacombs: Anaïs Maviel: “In the middle of Green-Wood lies a cavernous underground space rarely open to the public. The Catacombs is not just a place of rest for the departed, it is also the setting for New York City’s most distinctive and atmospheric musical experience. The evening features Anaïs Maviel, a vocalist and composer who combines traditional and experimental approaches to investigate the transformative power of music.” (8:00 PM Green-Wood Cemetery, $40)
🍿🧌’House’ @ Nitehawk: Friends visit a remote mansion and a severed head takes flight, household appliances come to life and a portrait of a cat seems to contain an evil spirit. (9:15 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
Thursday, Oct. 5th
🍿🎸Mutiny In Heaven: The Birthday Party @ Nitehawk. “Narrated exclusively by the original members of The Birthday Party, Mutiny in Heaven delves deep into a band’s psyche, chronicling how Nick Cave and his school friends startled audiences with their confrontational performances, primal screams, outlaw gothic horror and anarchic lifestyle.” (6:45 PM, Nitehawk Cinema )
👯🍿The Parent Trap! (A Union Fundraiser Show): “You! And you! PACK YOUR BAGS!! It’s time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Nancy Meyers classic with a live reading from New York’s top comedic writers and performers. Here’s the 411: One hundred percent of the profits will go to WGA and SAG members and artists on strike – so those who don’t buy tickets will be sent to the isolation cabin!” (8:00 PM Littlefield, $15-$20)
🍿🎃Spoons Toons & Booze Halloween After Dark: “Your Favorite Evening Cartoon, Booze & Free Cereal party is back with a Special Menu of Halloween Themed Episodes! Hosted by SecretFormula’s pop culture and cereal experts Michael Austin and Nell Casey, with comedic commentary in-between episodes. Compete in the Halloween Costume Contest for a chance to pick a cartoon and win fun prizes! Extra points if you’re dressed as a cartoon or cereal character.” (9:15 PM, Nitehawk Cinema)
Let us know what you’re doing in the comments!